INK MAGAZINE - JUNE 2022 by Ink Publications

A Guide to Finer Living in Connecticut & abroad June 2022

Vol 17 Issue 197 inkct.com

For the best care anywhere, I’m not leaving the e shoreline.

JUNE 2022

Vol. 17 Issue 197

Feature Stories

Departments

Mashantucket Pequot Museum

History, Strength, & Respect

Disc Golf Anyone

A Souring Popularity

_18 _54 _64

Coastal Cuisine - Sip Wine Bar - Old Saybrook. Ask Ashley - What is Social Wellness? Cheesemonger - Charcuterie

“One benefit of summer was that each day we had more light to read by.” – Jeannette Walls

Spain’s Architectual of Beauty, of Structure, of Style...

All Cereberal

The Cushing Brain Center’s Brain Collection

Welcome to June and the beach is calling! This is the time of year when friends gather to the smell of the barbeque and your annual lobster roll takes center stage. Here at INK, we are all looking forward to the many gifts that the early summer season carries with it. In this issue, we took a visit to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and had a personal walkthrough with one of the tribal members. We learned a great deal about it’s inception and the road leading to what stands on the ground today. Then we explored the resurgence of disc golf, a game which is quickly gaining popularity as a way for people to get outside with friends and test their skills. Next we go abroad with Caryn B. Davis and a visit to one of Barcelona Spain’s most interesting architectural endeavors. The Dr, Seuss-like buildings of Antoni Gaudi. Then it is down to New Haven and more specifically, a visit to the Cushing Brain Center. There they have been collecting, examining, and studying the function of one of natures most powerful supercomputers, the human brain. They have compiled a great gallery of specimens in their many forms. It’s founder Dr. Harvey Cushing, wasn’t just the most famous Neurosurgeon of his time, he as the most famous physician in the world. Our last feature story is on Mystic’s own triple threat Tish Rabe. She is an accomplished author, television producer, and also a publisher. She is a woman with passion that we feel everyone is better for knowing... Enjoy!

Contributors

Tish Rabe

Mystic Triple Threat

Jeffery Lilly founder / publisher

Ashley Alt - ask ashley

A. Vincent Scarano - photography

Susan Cornell - editorial

Carolina Marquez-Sterling - design

Caryn B. Davis - editorial/photography

Paul Partica - the cheesemonger

Alison Kaufman - music mirth & mojo

Jan Tormay - editorial

Nancy LaMar-Rogers - editorial

Robert Rabine - editorial

Rona Mann - editorial

Joe Urso - ad design

Advertising

Jeffery Lilly - Publisher 860.581.0026 Bob Houde - Advertising Director bob@inkct.com 860.303.6690

Rona Mann - Greater Connecticut six07co@att.net - 401-539-7762 Richard Malinsky - Shoreline richard@inkct.com - 215.704.9273

On the Cover: Barcelona Spain photo by Caryn B. Davis

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BUIILT ON HISTOR RY, STR T ENGTH, AND D GREAT RESPECT THE PEQ QUOT MUSEUM M IS A “LESSSON THAT MU UST CONTIN NUE TO BE TAUG GHT” Proﬁle by Rona Mann Photos by Jeff Lilly

To begin, The Pequot Museum and Research Center is sure to excite every demographic. There are accommodations for young children, seniors, those with accessibility issues, and everyone in between. Everywhere there are options: escalators, elevators, ramps, walking and hiking trails. “Foxwoods has evolved into a family-friendly resort, and here at the Pequot Museum we are very family-friendly as well,” says Robert Hayward, Director of Museum Marketing. Hayward’s aunt, Theresa Bell, was the first Executive Director of the complex, and Robert is following in her footsteps and those of his ancestors reiterating, “This is a story that needs to continue to be taught. It’s not taught in schools that much, although here in Connecticut we’re working to improve that; however, you can’t really talk about American history without talking about Pequot history.” It is virtually impossible in one magazine article to enumerate the myriad of wonders this unique destination holds for every visitor. It’s a place to which you can return again and again, not just for the exhibits, but for ongoing events like the Summer Powwow that will take place next month on July 8th and 9th. This is a living exhibition, free with museum admission and showcasing Native American dancers and highlighting the significance of having such a gathering for Indigenous people. As Robert Hayward says, “The Pequots are not about teepees. That’s a stereotype. The powwow experience is educational

“This is a story that needs to continue to be Pequot history.”

and helps the people who come here to understand and better appreciate our culture.” Nunootayunonash (“Our Baskets”) This exhibition is ongoing showcasing 19th and 20th-century splint ash baskets and highlights the natural resources used, basket weaving, and decorative techniques. On November 12th you are invited to return to the Pequot Museum for the Veterans Powwow, a ceremony that honors and thanks our country’s greatest heroes. It is open to both

Federal recognition, and takes you right up to the present day. Tours may be self-guided or scheduled in advance and hosted by an experienced educator if desired. Highlights include a caribou-hunt diorama, the changing environment over 15,000 years, learning about how wampum is made, and the spellbinding 30-minute film, “The Witness” in which spectators will witness the tragedy of the Pequot War through the eyes of an elder who survived the horrific Massacre at Mystic. There are other films to view - no, you can’t possibly see it all in one visit - and you will begin with each succeeding visit to see and appreciate Pequot life through the eyes of a child, three sisters, tribal members, and by the end of the visit, your own. Groups are always welcome. Schools, churches, business groups, and those who want to broaden their vistas, learn, appreciate, and see how Pequot history weaves into their own find this experience a “must.” Programs may be individually tailored for different demographics and time constraints and should be pre-arranged to be most satisfying. There are individual classrooms, theatres, and meeting rooms situated throughout the complex. Native and non-native veterans, active-duty military, museum members, and the public. Hayward adds, “A Pequot has fought in every war in U.S. history, something probably not widely known.”This Veterans Powwow is intended for them as well as every veteran in the United States. The museum is beautifully laid out over three separate levels. Visitors begin their journey on Level Two and methodically journey through time beginning with the Ice Age, proceeding to the arrival of the people, the introduction to horticulture, daily life, the arrival of the Europeans, the prelude to war, the massacre at Mystic, life on the reservation, the farmstead,

“I am most interested in getting Millennials here to experience all we have,” says Hayward. Many live just a couple of miles away in Ledyard or they drive by regularly and never know who and what we are unless maybe they had their prom here or attended a wedding.” Yes, proms, weddings, corporate retreats, trade shows, field trips, and the like have all found that The Pequot Museum is a compelling and breathtaking space to rent for their event, where they are able to easily coordinate food, entertainment, and all details by working with museum personnel who will make sure their event is seamless. Recently, the Coast Guard hosted a formal ball within this space.

The Mashantucket Pequot tribe owns the museum which is fiscally maintained through donations from individuals, businesses, corporations, and partnerships. Because The Pequot Museum has finally achieved Federal recognition, it also opened them up to receive federal funding. It may astound others as it did Robert Hayward when he visited the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and found that there’s more Pequot history in this place than in Washington...and you won’t have to travel far at all to experience it thoroughly and enjoyably. This summer, plan the short trip to The Pequot Museum. You will be amazed at all there is to see. You will be delighted at all you can do, regardless of your age or any physical limitations. Come find out about the extinct dire wolf, see the giant beaver, and visit the sugar shack where tribal members make their own syrup which is sold in the gift shop when available. Then inquire about membership in the museum which is extremely reasonable and grants unlimited general admission all year long. Daily single admission prices range from $13. for children 6-17 to adults at just $22. Children under 5 and museum members are always free. The Pequot Museum & Research Center is open Wednesday-Saturday. Come learn history first-hand, up close, and hear tales about an often-forgotten people’s long and storied history. “This museum is who we are. Pequot history doesn’t stop,” Robert Hayward adds. “It continues. Come, experience our story.”

It’s all about their history. It’s all about yours as well. Kuwihqitumosh putuki (please return)!

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center is located at 110 Pequot Trail in Mashantucket,CT For convenient directions and more information: www.pequotmuseum.org (860) 396-6890

Left Page Clockwise First Four Images: Courtesy of Mashantucket Pequot Museum Above Top Left And Bottom Right: Courtesy of Mashantucket Pequot Museum

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Coastal Cuisine Sip Wine Bar, Old Saybrook Because Wine is a...

by Robert Rabine / Photos Courtesy Sip Wine Bar

f you haven’t strolled down Main Street in Old Saybrook recently, you might not have noticed a sweet little newcomer to the already jumping F &B scene. Sip Wine Bar is located behind the now defunct Saybrook Paint Shop in a spanking new building at 85

Main Street, and it’s about as hip as it gets if good wine and conversation are your thing. Sip Wine Bar opened in November of 2020 and is the collective effort and passion of Derrik and Kelley Kennedy, a local couple who initially moved to Old Saybrook to raise a family and fell in love with the community. Opening the wine bar,“was the next natural step for us,” said Kelley. They’ve known each other since Middle school; he went to UConn and she attended NYU, eventually they reconnect through his college roommate and married in 2009. Community involvement is an important part of their business

philosophy, and all their food vendors are local: “We are part of a network of woman owned businesses here in Old Saybrook: Fromage, Pursuit of Pastry, and Dagmar’s,” Kelley said. Their interest in ﬁne wine was cultivated through travel. Kelley works for Medtronic,

and travel is a big part of her job. “You can see the influence of that travel on our menu where you can find things you might not see on another list, such as Isreali wines or our Hungarian reds, “she said. Kelley and Derrik were particularly drawn to the enoteca and café scene in Italy. Small, charming, family-run places that offer limited fare but lots of tasting, sampling, wine talk and coffee (he is totally into Italian wines). Derrik worked in government but has since devoted himself to his ongoing wine education, raising 2 kids, and managing the new business. He is studying for his Master Sommelier Certificate, has a Level 3 Certification from The Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and is a Certified Specialist in Wine, awarded by The Society of Wine Educators. “We are a true wine bar,”

Derrik told me, “The fact that we don’t have a full kitchen actually helps us focus on what we do best.” The short food menu matches well with the wine list and includes cheese, charcuterie and accompaniments from Fromage: a dozen cheeses, pate, meats, breads, spreads, olives, fruit and such. Rotating desserts are by Dagmar’s. Personally, I know a little about wine, having almost a decade’s worth of Wine Spectator Awards between my two restaurants, but when he speaks wine, I listen. Derrik has a world of technical knowledge he loves to share, it’s probably his favorite part of the job. The Wine Bar space is intimate, airy and has a decidedly European Vibe with clean lines. Wine bottles line the teal walls. A marble bar faces a gorgeous back bar with a bank of high-tech wine dispensing units made by Napa Technologies. These wine stations are a clever combination - combining refrigeration, preservation (argon) and

pouring accuracy in one unit. A stamped tin ceiling and globe lighting over the bar make it a great place to just relax and meet some

new friends. Tan banquettes run the length of the front room, with a small wine library space in back. Tables outside are a perfect spot for some afternoon sun and a little people watching along Main Street, maybe toasting them as they walk by (the stemware is top notch). Overall, the service is notably pleasant and knowledgeable, with Derrick always around for solid advice. The 20- bottle by the glass list changes frequently, with bottles and half bottles available. Wine pours are available in 3 sizes: ½ ounce taster pour, 2 ounces, and 5 ounces, with ﬂights available. Derrick buys most things one case at a time with the speciﬁc intent of rotating the inventory to keep things interesting. On our visits we tasted wines as varied as Rhone Rose, Spanish Grenache Blanc from Cigales, Cabernet Franc from Loire, New Zealand Sauvignon

Blanc and a terrific Sparkling Rose from Ambriel Vineyard in Sussex, England if you can imagine. Derrick explained that the soil and climate in Sussex are practically identical to Champagne. “We’ve sold hundreds of bottles,” he said. You can buy bottles to go (should have taken an Ambriel home), order online, and then join their Sip Wine Club, which includes 4 bottles monthly at a regular or premium level. Check their website for special events like caviar and Champagne tastings, wine classes and more. You can rent out the space for private events as well. In fact, my birthday is coming up. Sip Wine Bar 85 Main Street Old Saybrook, CT 06475 860-339-5513 Sipsaybrook.com

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POPULARITY

C GOLF’S ISC DIS D

SOARS

By Susan E. Cornell

Few of us have had it easy-breezy for the past couple of years. But, based on often crowded courses, empty disc golf equipment shelves, backordered backpacks, and sold-out starter packs, it seems that more of us than ever before have added joy to our lives with disc golf. In fact, discing is one of the fastest growing sports in the US. With more courses open to the public as well as many places being free to play, it’s no surprise we’re picking up (and throwing around) a new hobby. Disc golf is growing at a brisk rate in part because it’s a great social distancing sport.

Photo Courtesy of Local Route Photography

ust like “ball” golf, you are outside in the fresh air and in groups of no more than four on each tee pad. The rules and scoring are similar to its ball golf cousin where there is a par for each hole and you throw from where the disc lands to a chained basket three feet off the ground rather than a hole in the ground. According to discgolfscene.com, which lists events, leagues, pictures, scores and tournaments for disc golf courses, there are 47 courses in Connecticut. Five of those were added in the past couple of years, and more are in the works. The Professional Disc Golfer Association (PDGA) year-end report shows a 33 percent increase in active members in the US from 2019 to 2020. While all 71,016 members aren’t because of the plague, COVID has been good for something.

The game was invented in the early 1900s by a group of elementary school friends who would throw lids into circles drawn into the sand. Before being known as the game we call it today, disc golf was called Tin Lid Golf. But it didn’t really take off until the 1960s; from Newport Beach, CA to Pendleton King Park in Augusta, GA players would use trash cans, water fountains, or whatever else worked. But don’t call this frisbee golf! The most obvious distinction is that a disc golf disc is smaller and denser than a frisbee. Frisbees are designed for throwing and catching, disc golf discs are designed for only throwing and not catching. You can, however, play disc golf with a frisbee. You can’t play competitively, but you can use regular frisbees to practice to improve your accuracy and distance. Disc golf is traditionally easier to get into than ball golf. When you play disc golf, pretty much the only skill you need to know is how to throw a frisbee (a bit simplified and apologies to the offended). With traditional golf, there are many skills to learn and develop in your game. Disc course builder Rob Lemire explains the differences between the two: “The big difference between ball golf and disc golf is you’re throwing discs around obstacles through very narrow fairways in the woods. The ‘roughs’ are rough because you’re basically off the fairway in the woods with no clear path to the basket.” “There are hundreds of different types of discs and they all fly very differently from each other. In the Northeast most fairways wind through the woods with trees in the flight path so a disc golf throw needs to be much more precise than a golf ball on a wide open fairway. Discs are made to turn left, right, go straight, and the speed at which you throw as well as the release angle will dictate the flight path of the disc.” Most players have a backpack with 15 to 20 discs which range from putters, midranges, fairway and distance drivers. Each disc ranges in cost from $7 to $20. The more rare collector ones start at $40.

“it’s “it’s all all a a labor labor of of love. love. It It took took three three put put in. in. All All volunteer volunteer hours. hours. Pretty Pretty much much everyone everyone involved involved in in the the scene scene just just does does it it for for the the love love of of the the sport.” sport.”

The sport surged in popularity over the past couple of years, Lemire says, because “people were scrambling to find new activities to maintain their sanity during quarantine.” “It’s great that the sport is getting more attention but it has come with some growing pains,” he says. On the supply chain side manufacturers have had a tough time keeping up with demand. Many popular discs were not available and disc golf backpacks were on backorder for months. Jason Michael, owner of Connecticut Disc Golf, the only dedicated brick and mortar seller in state and in surrounding areas, says, “Like some other few lucky businesses, COVID gave birth to an incredible explosion in this sport, and business continues to increase like crazy.” Not long ago he was ready to shut the door, assuming COVID closures would be “a knife in the heart.” With two other companies, Connecticut Disc Golf was just a hobby for him, “but now it’s an actual job,” he jokes. Michael thought there would be a natural falloff but, instead, the sport is almost infectious. That is, “people bring friends, who are ‘like wow, this is the greatest thing ever,’ and they bring friends. This is only an educated guess but it looks like it’s just going to keep growing.” Tournaments throughout the state can fill up in a matter of minutes and sometimes even seconds. “Many veteran disc golfers have been unable to play in many due to the aggressive sign-ups,” notes Lemire.

All Images Courtesy of Jason Michael / Connecticut Disc Golf LLC

The US has about half the world’s disc golf courses at around 7,000 but you’ll find plenty in Finland, Sweden, Canada, and everywhere from Australia to South Africa.

“It is all about form, technique and strategy. It’s all about the ‘snap’ which is creating your arm as a whip getting maximum rotation on the disc. It’s a technique that can take years to develop.”

Opening a course is no easy task. Explains the builder, “First is getting the town’s parks and recreation support and formal approval. Then conservation commissions and/or wetland approvals. Figuring out funding can sometimes be difficult. Ideally funds are allocated from parks and recreation budgets but sometimes private funding is required for a course’s construction with the average cost per course around $20,000 using volunteers for the labor.” Some of the funding actually comes from lost discs! Patrick Laffan, who manages the lost and found for Nichols Field Disc Golf Course in Moodus explains, “after 90 days discs go into the ‘abandoned bin’ and are sold for course funds.” Laffan, a volunteer, also notes “it’s all a labor of love. It took three years from start to finish to get Nichols put in. All volunteer hours. Pretty much everyone involved in the scene just does it for the love of the sport.” Incidentally, discgolfscene.com ranked Nichols number four in Connecticut, with a grade of A-. Kudos to volunteering! Laffan adds, “I don’t know anybody who is actually making money building/designing courses.” Over the last three years, Lemire has built two courses, one in Killingworth and the other in Salem. He has a course approved by parks and recreation in Old Saybrook which he hopes will go into construction in 2022, as well as a proposed course in East Lyme. Above Photos: Courtesy of Local Route Photography Opposite Page Above: Courtesy of Jason Michael / Connecticut Disc Golf LLC Lower Right: Courtesy of Local Route Photography

On average it takes two to three years to complete a course. “Ideally the design of a course is done over various seasons to take into account leaf coverage and drainage during wet months.” Lemire’s day job is Engineered Products Manager in the field of stormwater management. His goal is to get disc golf as a school sanctioned sport as an option “for those kids that don’t gravitate to group sports or ones that require the highest level of agility, ideal weight, or strength.” Disc golf, Lemire explains, is not dependent on age, weight, height, strength or speed. “It is all about form, technique and strategy. It’s all about the ‘snap’ which is creating your arm as a whip getting maximum rotation on the disc. It’s a technique that can take years to develop.” He would love to see towns to offer the sport within the school system “for those kids that are not the most in-shape and would rather be on video games because they have no selfconfidence to compete in sports.”

“I’ve volunteered the last three years of my life building courses for towns for just this. I get an enormous amount of satisfaction when I see families on the course together enjoying the game or that kid that never took to high pressure group sports but loves how they can practice independently at their own rate. I volunteer my time because I love the sport and, if it gets one kid off video games or their phones for a few hours a week, it’s worth it.” For information on where to play in Connecticut, please visit discgolfscene. com. If you’re looking to share information, ideas and the love of the sport, check out the Facebook group CT Disc Golf, and most courses also have their own Facebook pages. If you’d like to purchase new equipment locally, visit High Nine Brewing (6 Winter Avenue, Deep River, highninebrewing.com), Hyzer Disc Sports (72 Grove Street, Vernon, hyzerdiscsports.com), and Connecticut Disc Golf (145 Quinnipiac Street, Wallingford). Some online sources include Marshall Street Disc Golf (marshallstreetdiscgolf.com) and Lucky Disc Golf (luckydiscgolf.com).

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P E Q U O T M U S E U M .O R G 8 6 0 . 3 9 6 .6 9 1 0 110 Pequot Trail, Mashantucket, CT 06338

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w pain feells like it’s made up of many smaller nations within ause in many ways it is.. It has the samee borderr,, and that’s beca untry about the size of Te 17 auton nomous regions in a cou Texas, including An ndorra, an independent principality near Francce, and Gibraltarr,, a British B Overseas Te Territorry on the southern coasst. Further adding to t this, Spain’s location n along the Iberian Pen ninsula and in close pr p oximity to Africa, has pr p ompted an influx of various v ethnic groupss for centuries each leaving behind a legacy evid dent in its culture, cu ustoms, and cuisine. (Forr example, Roman conq querors built roads, aaqueducts, and monumeents, while the Moors co ontributed fine arch hitecture, science, and liiterature).

Modern Spain, which still retains a foothold in the past, is known for its artists (Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Francisco de Goya); bullfights; Flamenco dancing and music; tapas; siestas and fiestas; fine wines and vineyards; world-class museums (The Prado and Guggenheim); medieval villages, Mediterranean beaches; mountain ranges (the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevadas), and more. There is much to love about Spain, especially its rich architectural heritage which I discovered on a recent sojourn to this hospitable country.

create a city filled with parks, residences, and buildings featuring his fantastical designs. What does that say about their culture? Did they have an eye for the quirky? Or an unusual sense of humor? Or a deep appreciation for unconventional art and beauty? His eccentric creations have become a part of everyday Barcelonan life. Does seeing them daily serve to alleviate stress, or remain us not to take ourselves too seriously? I wonder.

My love of architecture stems from my travels, and I have been fortunate to transform my passion into a profession as an architectural photographer. One of the reasons I am so enthralled by buildings that can appear static, is because they are alive with history. The stories they communicate not only tell us not just about the people who occupied them but also about the people who built them and the cultures they embrace.

Antoni Gaudí (1852 – 1926) was a Catalan architect and considered the father of Modernisme, not to be confused with Modernism, as the styles differ. His designs prioritized curved lines over straight by incorporating towers, arches, and domes. He often employed ruled geometrical forms interpreted from his studies in nature and adorned his constructions with intricate ornamentation and organic motifs. Although Modernisme was principally confined to Barcelona, Gaudí ‘s work helped to propel this moment beyond.

Consider Antoni Gaudí whose whimsical architecture is what makes Barcelona, Barcelona. And consider the mindset of the Barcelonans who commissioned Gaudí to

Gaudí’s first major commission to garner recognition was Casa Vicens. It was a summer home built in 1883 for the Vicens family and in 2005, it became a UNESCO

World Heritage Site along with five other buildings this imaginative architect fabricated. In 1878, Gaudí met industrialist Eusebi Güell at the Paris World Fair. This encounter led to many other exceptional constructions throughout Barcelona including Güell Palace, Güell wine cellars, the crypt of the church of the Colònia Güell, and Park Güell, a 42-acre site compromised of gardens, mosaics, and architectural elements overlooking the city. Other notable buildings include Casa Batlló and Casa Milà; but arguably, it is the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, that some consider to be his greatest masterpiece. Although Gaudí began working on the church in 1883, a project he pursued until his death, the church remained unfinished. Work continued until 1936 when it was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War and was picked up again four years later. It is scheduled for completion in 2026 marking the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s passing; a fitting honor for a man who gave so much to his beloved city. About an hour’s drive northwest of Madrid is the historic city of Segovia located in the Castile and León region. It too is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its intact Roman aqueduct, the Gothic style Segovia Cathedral, and the Alcázar of Segovia which is reputed to have been the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle. To say the Aqueduct of Segovia is impressive doesn’t even cut it. This massive structure was built in the 1st century AD without the use of modern tools, mortar, or machinery. It is an engineering feat and almost unfathomable. How did they do it? Originally constructed to bring the mountain waters of the Frío River down to the city located 17 miles away, this

gargantuan structure is comprised of 24,000 granite blocks, 165 arches, and measures 93.5 feet tall at its highest point. It runs 2,388 feet across the entrance to the city standing like a sentinel fusing the past to the present. It is a true work of art and a beauty to behold.

The Alcázar of Segovia is a medieval fortress that satisfies the imagination with how one expects a proper castle to look. Strategically situated on a craggy cliffside straddling two rivers, it was originally built as a Roman fort and replaced by a Moorish fort before transitioning from a military stronghold into a palatial residence for Castilian monarchs during the 12th century. The expansion and decoration of the castle began in 1412 under the rulership of Catherine of Lancaster, the Queen of Castille. Several years later, it also became home to the royal treasury, archives, and armory. In the 17th century, when the royal court was relocated to Madrid, the Alcázar was turned into a state prison, then the Royal Artillery School in 1762, and finally into a military college in 1896. Today, it is a military archive building and museum where visitors can walk the halls while imagining King Alfonso X meeting with Cortes in 1256; or seeing the proclamation of Isabel de Castilla in 1474 or witnessing the wedding of Felipe II with Ana de Austria in 1570. If only these walls could talk! The Segovia Cathedral was the last gothic cathedral built in Spain between 1525 and 1577. The original site for this church was next to the Alcázar but was destroyed during an uprising against the rule of Charles I by the citizens of Castille. Its towers and turrets now overlook the Plaza Mayor, Segovia’s main square. Its interior which has some baroque and neoclassical elements, possesses three naves, a semicircular sanctuary with an 18th-century marble jasper and bronze altarpiece made by Italian architect Francisco Sabatini, and 20 side chapels including one with stained glass windows, ornate sculptures, and intricate carvings by the Churriguera’s, a family

of Spanish sculptors and architects. A cloister leads to tombs designed by the late-Gothic architect Juan Guas, and an onsite museum houses prominent religious artworks, jewelry, and antique manuscripts. Spain is very easy to reach. There are several non-stop flights from New York to Madrid, and in a mere seven hours, you can find yourself soaking up the sun on Spanish soil. It has a great public transportation system with buses and trains that take visitors everywhere from large cities to tiny hilltop hamlets. I chose to rent a car and drove along well-paved, uncrowded, motorways that were simple to navigate especially since the Spaniards drive on the same side of the road as we do in the states. The options for accommodations are plentiful from small pensions to B&Bs, to government-run Paradores, which offer stays in castles, palaces, convents, monasteries, fortresses, and other historic buildings with a portion of your payment going to its upkeep.

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Welcome to Connecticut Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Best Steakhoouse in Middlesex County, and bestt kept secret in the state, Black Jax Saloon! Black Jax opened quietly in late 2019 to hand train its staff from the t ground up, improving every dayy and aiming to deliver the best customer experience. Like many restaurants, it was devastated by the pandemic annd also e forced to close for nine months for repairs. Black Jax is now back in action and better than ever before. Industry veteran and chef Jack Flaws has enjoyed a successful career e spanning more than 30 years and has been at the helm of some of CT’s bestt restaurants. His talents are on display at the best steakhouse in CTT.. Come to Black Jax soon and see what the press has been missing -

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“The chief functtion of the body is to carry the bbrain around.” Thomas Edison.

ALL CEREBRAL The Cushing C g Cen Center’s nter’s Brain Br a Collectio ain Collection on Profile By Susan Cornell Photos by Teerry Daagradi, Cushing Center - Cushing/Whitney Medical Library, Yaale University

ale is well-kn nown for braiiny students, but did you have any idea the university is homee to an historicc collection off abnormal brains in jars? More than 400 human brains, perfecttly preserved in crystal-clear glass jars, are on permanent display at The Cushing Center at Ya Y ale's Harvey y Cushing/Jo ohn Hay Whitney Medical Library y. If, as Edison believed, the brain rules, the brain collection shows how medicine came to value the organ g and decod de its ts workings o k gs during du g the t e past century ce tu y. The assemblaage of over 2,,200 case studies includes not only human whole brain specimens but also tumor specimens, microscopic slides, journal excerpts, notes, and thougatives dating from the late 1800s to 1936. sands of photographic neg includes the spooky sub-basement of the medical The story y, rather Indiana Jones-esque, J ak-ins, and a secret “Brain Society”. The collection wouldn’t exist school dorm, student brea at all without some venturresome postgrads as well as key people in the Ya Yale School of Medicine whose lives werre shaped by neurosurgeon, pathologist, writer and draftsman, Dr. Harvey Cushing. Cushing wasn't just the m most famous neurosurgeon of his time, he was the most famous physician in the world in his time. Known as the father of neurosurgery he changed medicine. Yo You may know Cushing’s syndrome, Cushing’s disease, and Cushing’s reflex. Harvey Cushing used X-rrays to diagnose brain tumors and was the first to measure blood pressure in the operating room. Equally impressive, Cushing was an accomplished artist and prolific writer. Cushing graduated from Yale College in 1891 and then studied medicine at Harvard. His professional life focused on studying brain tumors and improving techniques to remove them. “Surgery for the brain wass not being done very successfully y,” says Dr. Dennis D. Spencerr, the Harvey and Kate C Cushing Professor of Neurosurgery at Ya Yale School of Medicine. “It took Harvey Cushing’ss special compulsive approach and innovation to make things better. He incorporated veery practical, rational techniques into the operating room, such as monitoring blood pressuree and the pulse, wrapping a tourniquet around the skull to prevent

“It took Harvey Cushin ng’’s special compulsive approach and innovation to make thingss better. He incorporated very practical, rational techniques q into th he operating p g room,, such as monitoring g blood pressure and the pu ulse, wrapping a tourniquet around the skull to prevent excessive bleeding, and using local anesthesia rather than general because b it was safer at that time.” excessive bleeding, and using local l anesthesia rather than general because it was saffer at that time.” Cushing wrote 1000 words a day d y, “so we know pretty much each day where he h was headed and ” Spencer says. Such what he was thinking about,” diligent documentation of surrgeries allowed assed on to those Cushing’s knowledge to be pa who followed. Cushing collected specimens and, when possible, a pass to donate asked his patients if or when they t and classify their brains. He continued to collect c brains to understand the human humaan brain and the pathology that affects it. Cushing returned to Ya Yale in 19333 as Sterling Professor of Neuroscience, bringing with him his collection of several hundred brains. “Once the organs were part of the Department of om all over the country Pathology y, individuals came from neuropathologists – neurosurgeons, pathologists and neur tudy the slides, the came to study the brains and study m the pathology in microscopic slides derived from the brain. It was just a part of every neurosurgeon’s history of learning about how they could better operate on the brain,” explains Spencer. Upon Cushing’s death six years laterr, he donated the cerebral collection to Ya Yale along with his medical records and other writings, detailed anatomical illustrations, before-and-after photos of patients, thousands of first- and second-edition medical texts dating from the middle ages through the Renaissance (of Copernicus, Galen, Hippocrates, Vesalius, to name a few), and thousands of glass plate negatives. Cushing hoped the university would provide a home for his brains. Above Riight Photo by Susan Cornell

With centers growing up all over the country collecting specimens of their own n, the collection of educational tissue lost relevance. Rather than taking up valuablee laboratory or clinical space, the brains ended up underground, in the sub-basemen nt of the medical school dormitory where they y rested for many years. “Most of us who had visited the brains a couple of times were aware of their sort of historical value but there was no space and nobody was motivated to do anything with this,” explains Spencer. Along came medical student Christopher Wahl in the early 1990s who confessed to Spencer that there was a ritual in which medical students break into the sub-basement and commune with Cushing’s brains.

basement while other key individuals pon n-dered how to create a permanent exhibit. The space now known as the Cushing Centerr, celebrated its twelfth anniversary in June. Cushing Center Coordinator T Teerry Dagradi, who has been involved since the glass plates were rediscovered in the basement (1994), said, “For me the moment I realized that the Cushing collection was an extraordinary piece of medical history and sort of a time capsule in itself was when the glass plate negatives were brought to me and I was able to start printing them … It was an amazing moment to see this image come out of this glass plate … the image itself was just breathtaking and stunning and also very emotional for me.”

WHY THE HANDS?

The hands ands could reveal data in the examination on of patients ailments. They werre done pur purely for documentary purposes. poses. “They couldn’ couldn’t see into the body the h way th thatt we can now w, so photos h t

“It was like a shop of horrors,” said Wa Wahl, “The overwhelming atmosphere was that you’re in a place that you maybe shouldn’t be in, lit by bare incandescent bulbs with a dirty floor in an old basement that smells of formaldehyde.” It was a “kind of horrific or strangely beautiful or magical scene.” Wahl ended up doing his medical thesis on the fascinating history of the collection. After Wahl graduated, students continued to secretly visit (okay y,, technically break into) the

“It was a patient, and his head was bowed down. Yo You couldn't see his face and he had some kind of strange almost vein-like structures coming out of his head and I just was taken by the emotion and also the vulnerability of this person at their time of probably very diffficult fi medical condition because most people who ended up under Cushing’s care at that point were people who were in pretty difficult medical conditions.” “I fell in love with the collection and ended up working with Dr. Spencer. The two of us tried to push this thing up the hill for about 15 years until the Center was built,” Degradi added.

could be critical to diagnosing patients,” says Dagradi. Of specific dianostic importance for Drr. Cushing werree faces and hands: veins being clogged up or fingernail irrregularities werree surree signs of infections, deficiencies or maladies.

Photo by Susan Cornell

Architect (and Ya Yalie) T Tu urner Brooks “really had such a vision for it. Even coming underrground, the materials he chose to build thiss place,” she said adding, “He was all about bi i i off things, hi d we placed l d cabinet curiosity and various topics in them.” If you visit the Cushing Center once it reopens (see head’s up below), and I highly recommend you do, you will be captivated by these pictures. There are photographs of toddlers with bulging tumors, strong men in unimaginable pain, and of parents with their children, suffering while still posing for Cushing’s camera.

Hence, the Center is of equal interest and value to those on a fifth-grade field trip as to med students and the intellectually curious of the intellect. Initially y, the thought was that the organs would need to re-homed in new jars for preservation purposes. One of the jars was sent to a glass jar preservationist at the Smithsonian who said it would be crazy to do anything but keep everything as-is because they’re crystal clear; the lead and the way this glass was made in early 1900s glass, it will never cloud, and the glass will be perfect. Plus, with original labels in Cushing’s own writing, that in and of itself is a work of art.

The jars themselves were extraordinary and include the labeling information. They are artifacts.

Cushing was an accomplished artist who drew each of his operations as well as sketched his travels. He was compulsive in his documentation, and each of his writings was accompanied by an artistic sketch. He won a Pulitzer Prize for his two-volume biography of his mentor and teacher William Oslerr, M.D.

“The purpose of this collection wasn’t to collect the strangest things so you could wow people. It was really about preserving an educational collection.”

He became an artist because he knew that to develop the field of neurosurgery y,, he needed to illustrate his operations. Illustrations documented his patients and their

An accidental time capsule of photography y. “Photography was an extension of how you’d collect data or information,” she explained.

“The purpose of this collection wasn’t to collecct the strangest things so you could wow peoplee. It was really about preserving an educational collection.”

disease, recorded operative pro ocedures and pathology y, and detailed his pursuits in his travel diaries. The significance of the Cushing Center is threefold, according to Spencer. “One is just the historical preservation and th he beauty y. It’s hard to believe that it's beauttiful, these preserved brains in their originaal glass jars. Secondly y, of course, are the phottographs. They are just unmatched in term ms of their art, they portray the emotion of these individuals who are undergoing g treatment for their often very fatal diseasess and, over time, they too will be increasingly valuable.” Degradi adds, “I think Cushing g would be really pleased with how many Yale undergraduate students and medical students h d ffrom hi k” have llearned his work.” Head’s up: As of this writing, due to th he pandemic, the Center is open to Yale and YNHH ID I holders. This is expected to change soon if not alr a ready. For more information on the Cushing Center C r, including directions and hours, go to: https://library. h medicine.yale.edu/cushingcenter

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AskAshley What is Social Wellness? By Ashley Alt And why should we give a hootenanny about it?

ummer is a season of ease. From long days at the beach to backyard barbecues, it’s no doubt the warmer months have a particular knack for scratching our social bug itch. With endless outdoor adventures on the horizon — farmer’s market runs, picnics in the park, live music in the streets — there really is no better time to

make new memories than when we’re at peak carefreeness, open and willing to try new things. While staying physically fit is the go-to topic this time of year, I wanted to remind you that staying socially fit is just as important as keeping our bodies (and minds!) in tiptop shape. Introducing social wellness, or social health, which refers to the relationships we have and how we interact with others. Being socially well involves building healthy, nurturing, and supportive relationships as well as fostering genuine connections with the people around us. Be it our spouse, best friend from college, or go-to barista, we should be making a conscious effort to check in with friends and family members, as well as strangers on the street, because when you make someone else feel good, it makes you feel good. Just like we have to work at keeping our minds sharp and bodies strong, the same method applies to sustaining the relationships we care about most, consistency being the key. Health, afterall, is a mindbody-soul connection. If we let one one piece falter, we’re at risk of the whole thing crashing.

beneﬁts attached, including adding years to your life, lowering your stress level, and promoting a sense of safety and belonging. As the pandemic blatantly showed us, too much alone time can make us feel lonely and out of touch. And, as the pandemic also showed us, there’s only so much FaceTime and Zoom we can handle. Social networks (and technology in general) actually give us a false sense of connectedness. If you’ve ever felt worse after scrolling through Instagram for example, it’s most likely because what you’re looking at isn’t real life. In-person interactions, on the other hand, allow you to take in another person’s emotions and reactions, in real time, in a way that isn’t misunderstood or misinterpreted.

In that respect, sometimes we need reminded that in order for our whole selves to feel good, we can’t skimp on the socialization piece. And really, why would we want to? Socializing is wonderful. Whether you enjoy intimate, one-on-one conversations with someone you just met or you love being the life of the party, interacting with other human beings is a basic human need that must be met in order to complete the wellness trifecta. While researching what social health is and why it’s important, I rounded up these key aspects to living a socially well life: Effective communication: Treating people with kindness and developing meaningful relationships. Being yourself: My favorite tip. Avoiding toxic people and environments: This includes your online life as well as your offline life. Not isolating yourself: Especially in times of duress, such as feeling particularly anxious or depressed. Striking a balance between alone time and social time: Everyone’s threshold for this looks different. Doing whatever works best for you and your specific needs, while setting boundaries you feel most comfortable setting.

The Benefits of Social Wellness The beneﬁts of social wellness reach far beyond the euphoric feeling you get when laughing with a friend or clicking with a new acquaintance. When you connect on a deeper level of a shared interest like being a parent or starting a business, feelings of self-worth, happiness, and overall wellbeing are signiﬁcantly improved, while feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression are lowered. It’s important to make an effort to spend time with others not only because it makes our souls happy, but because of the numerous health

Better mental health is a huge plus from socializing, as it has a ripple-like effect power to boost your immune system. Research has shown that being socially isolated can lower your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness, while being more social upps your resistance to colds and flu, and even gives you more energy and feelings of positivity. In addition to aiding in better physical health, socializing also encourages good habits, so long as the people you’re hanging out with are positive influences in your life. As Next Avenue Health put it, “When we know we matter, it’s somehow easier to make the right choices for our own well-being.” In this new work-from-home world filled with YouTube workouts, grocery deliveries, and Amazon everything, it feels beyond refreshing to be faceto-face with other people. And while we are all busy growing our careers and raising kids, keeping our friendships intact, as well as mending or sustaining our relationships with family members, really does matter and shouldn’t be placed on the backburner. Keeping in mind everyone’s social wellness looks a little bit different depending on personality types and other factors, it’s a no-brainer that socializing is essential to your health, and is arguably the most exciting way to stave off bad moods. To keep up with Ashley and her mental health pursuits, sign up for her newsletter at https://ashleyalt.substack.com

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Mystic Triple Threat: Author‚ TV Producer‚ Publisher Has Tish Rabe Done It All? Nope, Not Yet! by Jan Tormay

Book Publisher, Tish Rabe of Mystic wanted to make it easier for children to learn the “global financial literacy” of earning, saving, spending, giving, and managing money, so she wrote, “Days Can Be Sunny for Bunnies and Money.” “The book is about triplet bunnies. The girl, Honey Fern, likes to earn. Sunny Dave likes to save, and Funny Ben likes to spend. Then in the end I added, ‘They all like to give,’” Rabe said during a telephone interview.

“We can help kids coming up - many of whom are going to have amazing resources bestowed on them - learn how to give back.” She added, “Kids in high school don’t know how to write a check. It’s a big issue right now.” Rabe, a best-selling children’s author and Emmy Awardwinning television producer founded Tish Rabe Books in Mystic in June 2020 and sold 26,000 books the first year. Describing company Executive Editor Jennifer Perry of Lyme as “talented, smart, and wonderful,” Rabe said she has helped her “from day one.” Perry is the former vice president and publisher of Sesame Street Books. “I had the vision and the idea, but she helped me bring them to life,” Rabe said. “I created this company to create books and media. I’m also doing animations and media for kids and families that make a positive difference in the lives of children, parents, teachers, and caregivers. Here in our little book company, we want to help kids, promote early childhood literacy, and get books into the hands of as many needy kids as we can. It is amazing to me that after being part of Sesame Street there are still millions of children across the United States with not one book in the house. We have to fix this. We have to make this better. We donate books all the time...I do anything I can. We have to get everybody learning how to read.” Even though “libraries are wonderful” and the books are free to borrow, Rabe believes it’s different when a child owns the book. She said she is really excited about owning her own publishing company because if she has an idea, she can publish it. “I’m putting my books out based on what I know parents want and kids want. I don’t have to get it by a major publisher’s gatekeepers.” Rabe’s goal is to publish books within a one-year timeframe. She published her first rhyming-and-lullaby book, “Sweet Dreams Ahead, Time for Bed” in April 2021. “We created it with Pajama Program which is a national nonprofit that gives pajamas and storybooks to kids facing adversity.”

“...millions of children across the United States with not one book in the house. We have to fix this. We have to make this better. We donate books all the time...I do anything I can. We have to get everybody learning how to read.”

“We were the first film crew allowed into China when China was opened up to production. That was amazing. We brought a six-foot yellow bird into Mainland China.”

Rabe said as soon as she met this “fabulous nonprofit,” she realized they needed a combined book with parental tips and a rhyming story “to read to their children to get them ready for sleep.” The Waltham, Massachusetts native has enjoyed an expansive career as a singer, songwriter, lyricist, narrator, author, scriptwriter, children’s media producer, and animation head writer. “There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System” (part of the Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library) has been on the Wall Street Journal Bestseller’s list annually for decades. She has also written over 170 children’s books (Sesame Street, Disney, Dr. Seuss, Blue’s Clues, and Nickelodeon, to name a few). She has also written about 280 songs for broadcast television. However, her journey took many twists and turns. While attending Needham High School in Massachusetts, Rabe performed in theater productions and wrote plays, poems, and songs. After graduating in 1969, she went on to attain a bachelor’s degree in Music and Voice at Ithaca College in 1973, at which point she moved to New York City with plans of being a singer.

While living on cereal in 1974, Rabe said her mother informed her of an article in the local paper that Needham High School Music Director Dave Conner had been hired to be the assistant music director of Sesame Street by Musical Director Joe Raposo, whom he had first met at summer theater. “She said, ‘You should just go meet him. He hasn’t seen you since you’ve left for college. You sang for him all through high school, and you had the lead in every musical. Why don’t you just go see what’s going on?’” Within one month, Rabe became production assistant for the Sesame Street Music Department responsible for hiring the jingle singers for the Muppets. “Of course, at that time what I really wanted to do was sing.” After about one year, Rabe said one of the young composers told her he had this song with Oscar and asked if she wanted to be one of the two backup singers. From then on, she sang with the Muppets on television, specials, and albums. She believes, “The early days of Sesame Street was the most creative time in television history” and in her life. “The people who ran Sesame Street, basically,” including Jim Henson, Jon Stone, and the writers “did anything they wanted. The genius of the writing on Sesame Street, which few people recognize, is they wrote things in double levels. They wrote things for the adults because they learned that the kids learned more if they saw the show with an adult than if they just sat by themselves.” Rabe was also associate producer for “Big Bird in China” in 1982. “We were the first film crew allowed into China when China was opened up to production. That was amazing. We brought a six-foot yellow bird into Mainland China.”

“The people who ran Sesame Street, basically,” including Jim Henson, Jon Stone, and the writers “did anything they wanted. The genius of the writing on Sesame Street, which few people recognize, is they wrote things in double levels. They wrote things for the adults because they learned that the kids learned more if they saw the show with an adult than if they just sat by themselves.” In about 1994, Rabe was hired to be a producer for the Random House Children’s Media Department to bring books to life in home videos. “And during that time, we produced a holiday special for HBO family, called the ‘Country Mouse and the City Mouse.’ John Lithgow was the City Mouse and Crystal Gayle was the Country Mouse.” Crystal Gayle performed three of Rabe’s original songs. Rabe also wrote “Clifford” and “Clifford’s Puppy Days” for Scholastic Entertainment, both were broadcast on PBS. Later, she became the head writer for “I Spy” series with 52 episodes for Scholastic Entertainment for HBO Family, based on the popular “I Spy” search-and-find books. “The first thing HBO Family said to us in the first meeting was they wanted a buddy series. They wanted storylines. There were none in the ‘I Spy’ books. They

wanted adventure stories. They wanted these two friends to go around the world and find all these objects.”

“didn’t have a television for years when she was growing up. It’s a huge emotional, magical, happy memory for me that she read children’s books to us all the time.”

Rabe came up with the idea of writing the story endings first and working backward, which is also how she writes all her children’s books – an idea she shares with children when talking, reading, and singing to them as a visiting school author. Rabe also suggests to young people that they keep a pad and pencil or pen by their beds. Comparing ideas to snowflakes, she said, “If you don’t write them down and they land on your desk, they do disappear.” Becoming a children’s author grew out of a “deep background” of her mother reading to her and her two brothers every night when they were young, said Rabe, adding her family “didn’t have a television for years when she was growing up. It’s a huge emotional, magical, happy memory for me that she read children’s books to us all the time.” Rabe said she feels lucky because she can still perform and sing for people with the “Tish Rabe and Friends” band. “So it’s in my life. It’s just not the way I pay my bills.” Tish Rabe and Friends, which performs at the Steak Loft in Mystic, was formed in 2013. The band includes Tish as lead vocalist, her husband, banjo/bass player John Rabe; drummer Hank Schaeffer; and piano player Joe Grieco. “Everybody sings, and we are famous for our beautiful vocal harmonies,” she said.

63 While the four Rabe children were growing up, Tish said John played the banjo and bass and the whole family would sing during impromptu jam sessions. Occasionally, Johnny Rabe and his sister, Melody Rabe now sing with the Tish Rabe and Friends band. Melody recently released a new album and has four tracks on Spotify, and Johnny is a member of the University Glee Club of New York City (a men’s choir). Now that he is an adult, Johnny said his favorite book by his mother is “Elmo’s First Sleepover,” which she wrote when he was going off to college. Thinking of Johnny, Tish wrote the book’s song, “Just One Moon,” which Elmo’s mother sings to Elmo telling him “we’re all looking at the same moon.” Johnny perceived the message as Elmo will be fine at the sleepover, he would be fine at college, and his mother would be fine being away from him. Tish and John Rabe split their time between their Mystic home where her husband enjoys fishing and their quiet apartment near Grand Central Station in New York City where she writes. Even though she is not a native of New York City, Tish said she considers herself a “passionate New Yorker,” and loves the energy and ease of being able to “walk anywhere.” For more information about Tish Rabe’s books and other projects, as well as the Tish Rabe and Friends band, go to tishrabe.com, or email her at tish@tishrabe.com.

noun, plural char·cu·te·ries [shahr-koo-tuh-reez, shahr-koo-tuh-reez; French shar-kytuh-ree]. cooked, processed, or cured cold meats and meat products, originally and typically pork products, as sausages, pâtés, hams, etc. a store

The

Cheesemonger Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop, Centerbrook CT

Charcuterie By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook The word Charcuterie is derived from the French words meaning meat and cooked. The term was used to described shops in 15th century France that made sausages and other cured, smoked and preserved meats. Today, however, charcuterie has taken on a new meaning. For most it is creating a presentation of mixed meats, cheeses, fruits (dried and fresh), nuts, breads, and crackers, etc.

Uncured Meat Meat falls into two basic processing groups, uncured (fresh) or cured. Uncured meat is simply meat that you might buy at the supermarket or butcher shop, as in a fresh cut of steak, a chop, a roast, etc. This is meat that you purchase and keep refrigerated for a short time. These meats can be grilled, roasted, baked, fried, etc. or frozen for future use. Freezing is the only long-term method of preserving fresh meats.

Cured Meat Cured meats came about for the very same reasons cheese is made, only instead of preserving milk for future use, you preserve meat. This process also dates back to a long time ago in history. There are two common methods of curing. The ﬁrst method is the wet method. This is where the meat is soaked in salty brine which often includes a mixture of herbs and spices. The second method is dry aging. This is when salt and spices are rubbed on the meat without the bath. A well-known example of this method would be jerky.

The main reasons to cure meat: 1. Preservation: The most important reason in history. Salt kills bacteria which ward off spoilage. 2. Flavor: Salt makes everything taste better. 3. Moisture retention: Salt pulls moisture out of the meat. Then, through osmotic pressure, the salty brine is infused back into the meat, locking in the moisture. When cooked, it does not dry out as much as fresh meat does. Other methods of curing include smoking and dehydration, the earliest forms of food curing. As far back as the 1800’s, it was discovered that salt mixed with nitrites would help to keep the red color in meats. This was far better looking than the grey color alternative. There are many other additives used in curing, each has its own purpose in the curing process. I already mentioned the use of salt, one of the oldest additives. Salt also slows the oxidation process which helps to prevent meat from going rancid. Sugar, honey, and maple syrup can also be used, but their most important purpose is to hide the salt taste. The ﬂavor from these additives is often very subtle. In addition, the sugar in these additives helps the growth of beneﬁcial bacteria.

Smoking This is one of the most common methods used today. The process of smoking seals the outer layer of meat, making it much harder for harmful

bacteria to enter. This is usually done in conjunction with salt. Smoking can be accomplished in three different ways: cold smoking, hot smoking, and smoke roasting. Cold smoking usually involves quick drying of the meat to eliminate bacteria, and the meat is usually thin-sliced. An example of this would be beef jerky. While smoke roasting fully cooks the meat, hot smoking differs in that the meat is partially cooked. Smoke just adds ﬂavor in the last example.

Nitrates and Nitrites These not only help kill bacteria, but as I stated earlier, they also help to give meat its fresh red appearance. From what I could research, the overuse of sodium nitrite or potassium nitrate can build to a lethal dose. According to the FDA, the maximum sodium nitrite level found in meats in the ﬁnished product can be no more than 200 ppm. A concentration of 120 ppm is the norm. The “GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) Food Ingredients Nitrates and Nitrites (Including Nitrosamines),”states that in order to reach this dose, an average adult would have to eat more than 18.5 lbs. of cured meat containing at least 200 ppm sodium nitrite in one sitting. The report further states that nitrites rapidly convert to nitric acid during curing, so you would have to triple the 18.5 lbs. In this case, salt would be the more toxic factor even if one could eat that much meat in one meal. It goes on to report that people normally consume more nitrates from vegetables than cured meats. It has been estimated that 10 percent of the human exposure to nitrites in the digestive tract comes from cured meats and 90 percent comes from vegetables and other sources.

Nitrosamines The other health issue to consider is what happens to the finished product when cooked, as cooking cured meats are known to produce nitrosamines (known carcinogens) in test animals. In short, nitrosamines increase with the degree of cooking, so cured meats that are cooked are actually more of a potential health hazard. Nitrosamines are usually not found in uncured meat except products like bacon. As a result, well-done bacon is more hazardous than less cooked bacon. Uncured, cured meat There are many meats labeled uncured out there that are not actually fresh meats, such as salami. These labels claim no added nitrites or nitrates. They are, however, actually cured because they have gone through some type of curing – whether it be salt, smoke, or dehydration, etc. Since they have no added nitrates or nitrites, the FDA requires they be labeled“uncured”. It lets us know that these products don’t have the added protection nitrates and nitrites offer. Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop

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